U.S. patent application number 14/439982 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-15 for battery pack.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG CHEM, LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG CHEM, LTD.. Invention is credited to Young-Sop Eom, Dal-Mo Kang, Ki-Youn Kim, Jun-Yeob Seong, Sung-Chun Yu.
Application Number | 20150295283 14/439982 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53037027 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150295283 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eom; Young-Sop ; et
al. |
October 15, 2015 |
BATTERY PACK
Abstract
Disclosed is a battery pack, which allows easy assembling and
exchange of electrical equipment and has an uncomplicated
structure. The battery pack includes at least one battery module,
the battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries,
and an electrical equipment plate having a plate shape on which at
least two of a battery management system (BMS), a current sensor, a
relay and a fuse are mounted, the electrical equipment plate being
electrically connected to the at least one battery module.
Inventors: |
Eom; Young-Sop; (Daejeon,
KR) ; Seong; Jun-Yeob; (Daejeon, KR) ; Kim;
Ki-Youn; (Daejeon, KR) ; Yu; Sung-Chun;
(Daejeon, KR) ; Kang; Dal-Mo; (Daejeon,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG CHEM, LTD. |
Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG CHEM, LTD.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
53037027 |
Appl. No.: |
14/439982 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
October 17, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2014/009803 |
371 Date: |
April 30, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/61 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 10/425 20130101;
H01M 10/482 20130101; H01M 10/48 20130101; H01M 2/1077 20130101;
H01M 2200/103 20130101; H01M 2220/20 20130101; H01M 2010/4271
20130101; Y02E 60/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01M 10/42 20060101
H01M010/42; H01M 10/48 20060101 H01M010/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 17, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0123822 |
Sep 19, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0125231 |
Oct 17, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0140825 |
Claims
1. A battery pack, comprising: at least one battery module, the
battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries; and an
electrical equipment plate having a plate shape on which at least
two of a battery management system (BMS), a current sensor, a relay
and a fuse are mounted, the electrical equipment plate being
electrically connected to the at least one battery module.
2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the electrical
equipment plate is located at an upper portion of the battery
module.
3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein at least one bus
bar is mounted on the electrical equipment plate, and at least two
of the current sensor, the relay and the fuse are electrically
connected by the bus bar.
4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein a plate
protrusion is provided on the electrical equipment plate, a
coupling hole is formed in the at least one bus bar, and the plate
protrusion is inserted into the coupling hole so that the bus bar
is fixed onto the electrical equipment plate.
5. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein through holes are
formed in both terminals of at least one of the current sensor, the
relay and the fuse, and the plate protrusion is inserted into the
through holes so that both terminals of at least one of the current
sensor, the relay and the fuse are connected and fixed to the bus
bar.
6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the plate
protrusion is fixed by a nut after being inserted into the coupling
hole and the through holes.
7. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the plate
protrusion is firstly inserted into the coupling hole of the bus
bar and then inserted into the through hole of at least one of the
current sensor, the relay and the fuse.
8. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the battery
module includes a cathode module terminal and an anode module
terminal which protrude upwards, coupling holes are formed in at
least two of the bus bars, and the cathode module terminal and the
anode module terminal are respectively inserted into the coupling
holes of the two bus bars for electric connection and fixation.
9. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the electrical
equipment plate has a bus bar insert so that the bus bar is at
least partially inserted into the bus bar insert.
10. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery
module includes a module protrusion formed at an upper portion
thereof, and the electrical equipment plate has a plate hole formed
at a location corresponding to the module protrusion, so that the
module protrusion is inserted into and fixed in the plate hole.
11. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the BMS has a
connection hole formed at a location corresponding to the plate
hole, so that the module protrusion is inserted into and fixed in
both the plate hole and the connection hole.
12. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery
module includes a connector connected to both ends of at least one
of the plurality of secondary batteries, and the connector is
inserted into a port of the BMS.
13. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising: a
pack case for accommodating the battery module and the electrical
equipment plate in an inner space thereof.
14. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein the pack case
includes a lower case having an inner space with an open upper
portion and an upper case coupled to the upper open portion of the
lower case.
15. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein the pack case
has an opening formed in an upper portion thereof at a location
corresponding to at least one of the BMS, the current sensor, the
relay and the fuse.
16. The battery pack according to claim 15, wherein the pack case
has a cover provided at the opening to open or close the
opening.
17. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
battery module is a plurality of battery modules which are arranged
in parallel in a horizontal direction, and wherein the electrical
equipment plate is located on the plurality of battery modules
arranged in parallel in a horizontal direction.
18. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
battery module is a plurality of battery modules which are stacked
in parallel in a vertical direction, and wherein the electrical
equipment plate is located on an uppermost battery module among the
plurality of battery modules.
19. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising: a
module case for accommodating the battery module in an inner space
thereof, wherein the electrical equipment plate is located on the
module case.
20. A vehicle, comprising the battery pack defined in claim 1.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack including a
plurality of secondary batteries, and more particularly, to a
battery pack including electrical equipment, which allows optimal
arrangement and easy exchange of the electrical equipment and
ensures simple assembling and uncomplicated structure.
[0002] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2013-0123822 filed on Oct. 17, 2013, Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2014-0125231 filed on Sep. 19, 2014 and
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0140825 filed on Oct. 17,
2014 in the Republic of Korea, the disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Recently, with the active development of electric vehicles,
storage batteries, robots, satellites, and the like, along with the
dramatically increasing demand for portable electronic products
such as laptop computers, video cameras, mobile phones, and the
like, research and development for high-performance secondary
batteries capable of repeatedly charging and discharging has been
actively made.
[0004] Currently, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride
batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries, and
the like are used as commercial secondary batteries. Among them,
lithium secondary batteries have little to no memory effect in
comparison with nickel-based secondary batteries, and thus lithium
secondary batteries are gaining a lot of attention for their
advantages of free charging or discharging, low self-discharging,
and high energy density.
[0005] A lithium secondary battery generally uses lithium oxide and
carbonaceous material as a cathode active material and anode active
material, respectively. The lithium secondary battery includes an
electrode assembly in which a cathode plate and an anode plate
respectively coated with the cathode active material and the anode
active material are disposed with a separator being interposed
between them, and an exterior, namely a battery case, which seals
and accommodates the electrode assembly together with an
electrolyte.
[0006] Generally, a lithium secondary battery may be classified
into a can-type secondary battery where the electrode assembly is
included in a metal can and a pouch-type battery where the
electrode assembly is included in a pouch of an aluminum laminate
sheet, depending on the shape of the exterior.
[0007] In these days, secondary batteries are widely used not only
for small-sized devices such as portable electronic devices but
also for middle-sized or large-sized devices such as vehicles and
power storages. In particular, along with exhaustion of carbon
energy and increased interest on environments, the public attention
is focused on hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles over the world,
including USA, Europe, Japan and Korea. In such hybrid vehicles and
electric vehicles, the most essential part is a battery pack which
gives a driving force to a vehicle motor. A hybrid vehicle or an
electric vehicle ensures better fuel efficiency and exhausts no or
less pollutant substances since a driving force for a vehicle is
obtained by charging/discharging a battery pack. For this reason,
more and more vehicle users select such hybrid vehicles and
electric vehicles. In addition, the battery pack of the hybrid or
electric vehicle includes a plurality of secondary batteries, which
are connected in series or in parallel to enhance capacity and
output.
[0008] Meanwhile, the battery pack may include various electric
parts together with a plurality of secondary batteries, and these
electric parts are called electrical equipment. The electrical
equipment included in the battery pack representatively may be a
relay, a current sensor, a fuse, a battery management system (BMS)
or the like. Such electrical equipment serves as a component for
managing charging/discharging of a secondary battery included in
the battery pack and ensuring safety, and is essentially included
in most kinds of battery packs.
[0009] In case of an existing battery pack, such electrical
equipment is mounted to an inside or outside of the battery pack,
but this electrical equipment arrangement causes several problems.
For example, in an existing battery pack, in order to ensure a
space for mounting a plurality of electrical equipment, it is
required to increase a volume of the battery pack or decrease an
accommodation space of the secondary battery. In addition, in an
existing battery pack, it is not easy to dispose and assemble each
of electrical equipment to an inside or outside of the battery
pack, and it is also not easy to connect the electrical equipment
to a battery module included in the secondary battery. Moreover, in
an existing battery pack, if any part of the electrical equipment
needs to be exchanged due to a breakdown, it is not easy to
exchange the part since the electrical equipment is installed with
a complicated structure.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0010] The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of
the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed
to providing a battery pack, which allows easy installation or
exchange of electrical equipment and has a simple structure, and a
vehicle including the battery pack.
[0011] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will
be understood from the following descriptions and become apparent
by the embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, it is
understood that the objects and advantages of the present
disclosure may be implemented by components defined in the appended
claims or their combinations.
Technical Solution
[0012] In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a
battery pack, which includes at least one battery module, the
battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries; and an
electrical equipment plate having a plate shape on which at least
two of a battery management system (BMS), a current sensor, a relay
and a fuse are mounted, the electrical equipment plate being
electrically connected to the at least one battery module.
[0013] Preferably, the electrical equipment plate may be located at
an upper portion of the battery module.
[0014] Also preferably, at least one bus bar may be mounted on the
electrical equipment plate, and at least two of the current sensor,
the relay and the fuse may be electrically connected by the bus
bar.
[0015] Also preferably, a plate protrusion may be provided on the
electrical equipment plate, a coupling hole may be formed in the at
least one bus bar, and the plate protrusion may be inserted into
the coupling hole so that the bus bar is fixed onto the electrical
equipment plate.
[0016] Also preferably, through holes may be formed in both
terminals of at least one of the current sensor, the relay and the
fuse, and the plate protrusion may be inserted into the through
holes so that both terminals of at least one of the current sensor,
the relay and the fuse are connected and fixed to the bus bar.
[0017] Also preferably, the plate protrusion may be fixed by a nut
after being inserted into the coupling hole and the through
holes.
[0018] Also preferably, the plate protrusion may be firstly
inserted into the coupling hole of the bus bar and then inserted
into the through hole of at least one of the current sensor, the
relay and the fuse.
[0019] Also preferably, the battery module may include a cathode
module terminal and an anode module terminal which protrude
upwards, coupling holes are formed in at least two of the bus bars,
and the cathode module terminal and the anode module terminal may
be respectively inserted into the coupling holes of the two bus
bars for electric connection and fixation.
[0020] Also preferably, the electrical equipment plate may have a
bus bar insert so that the bus bar is at least partially inserted
into the bus bar insert.
[0021] Also preferably, the battery module may include a module
protrusion formed at an upper portion thereof, and the electrical
equipment plate may have a plate hole formed at a location
corresponding to the module protrusion, so that the module
protrusion is inserted into and fixed in the plate hole.
[0022] Also preferably, the BMS may have a connection hole formed
at a location corresponding to the plate hole, so that the module
protrusion is inserted into and fixed in both the plate hole and
the connection hole.
[0023] Also preferably, the battery module may include a connector
connected to both ends of at least one of the plurality of
secondary batteries, and the connector is inserted into a port of
the BMS.
[0024] In addition, the battery pack according to the present
disclosure may further include a pack case for accommodating the
battery module and the electrical equipment plate in an inner space
thereof.
[0025] Also preferably, the pack case may include a lower case
having an inner space with an open upper portion and an upper case
coupled to the upper open portion of the lower case.
[0026] Also preferably, the pack case may have an opening formed in
an upper portion thereof at a location corresponding to at least
one of the BMS, the current sensor, the relay and the fuse.
[0027] Also preferably, the pack case may have a cover provided at
the opening to open or close the opening.
[0028] In addition, the at least one battery module may be a
plurality of battery modules which are arranged in parallel in a
horizontal direction, and the electrical equipment plate may be
located on the plurality of battery modules arranged in parallel in
a horizontal direction.
[0029] In addition, the at least one battery module may be a
plurality of battery modules which are stacked in parallel in a
vertical direction, and the electrical equipment plate may be
located on an uppermost battery module among the plurality of
battery modules.
[0030] In addition, the battery pack according to the present
disclosure may further include a module case for accommodating the
battery module in an inner space thereof, in which the electrical
equipment plate is located on the module case.
[0031] In another aspect, of the present disclosure, there is also
provided a vehicle, which includes the above battery pack.
Advantageous Effects
[0032] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a
battery pack which ensures easy installation and assembling of
electrical equipment. Therefore, since the battery pack may be
produced more rapidly, the productivity may be improved, and its
manufacturing process or apparatus may be simplified.
[0033] In addition, in an aspect of the present disclosure, when
any part of the electrical equipment breaks, it is possible to
easily exchange only the broken part.
[0034] Moreover, in an aspect of the present disclosure, various
kinds of electrical equipment may be electrically connected when
the electrical equipment is assembled to an electrical equipment
plate.
[0035] In addition, in an aspect of the present disclosure, since
various kinds of electrical equipment may be assembled onto a
single electrical equipment plate, the various kinds of electrical
equipment may be managed as a single plate unit, which allows
easier management of the electrical equipment.
[0036] Further, in an aspect of the present disclosure, since a
component such as an internal circuit board (ICB) may not be
separately provided to the battery pack, the battery pack may have
a simpler structure and may also be assembled more easily.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0037] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments
of the present disclosure and, together with the foregoing
disclosure, serve to provide further understanding of the technical
spirit of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure
is not to be construed as being limited to the drawings.
[0038] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing
a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing
an electrical equipment plate according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of
the electrical equipment plate of FIG. 2.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a pack
case of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack
according to still another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack
according to further another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
BEST MODE
[0045] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. Prior to the description, it should be understood that
the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should
not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but
interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to
technical aspects of the present disclosure on the basis of the
principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms
appropriately for the best explanation.
[0046] Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a
preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not
intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, so it should be
understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made
thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the
disclosure.
[0047] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing
a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery pack according to the
present disclosure includes a battery module 100 and an electrical
equipment plate 200.
[0049] The battery module 100 includes a plurality of secondary
batteries. In addition, the battery module 100 may further include
metallic end plates located above and below the secondary
batteries, a duct for allowing air to flow into or out of the
battery module 100, and a sensing module 120 connected to an
electrode tab of the secondary battery to sense a voltage of the
secondary battery or the like, in addition to the secondary
batteries.
[0050] Meanwhile, the secondary batteries included in the battery
module 100 may be pouch-type secondary batteries, and the
pouch-type secondary batteries may be stacked in a horizontal or
vertical direction. At this time, in order to facilitate easier
stacking of the pouch-type secondary batteries, the battery module
100 may further include a stacking frame. The stacking frame holds
a secondary battery to prevent shaking of the secondary battery,
and a plurality of stacking frames may be stacked to guide a
plurality of secondary batteries to be stacked. The stacking frame
may also be named various terms such as a cartridge and may have a
rectangular ring shape with a hollow center. In this case, four
edges of the stacking frame may be located at an outer
circumference of the secondary battery.
[0051] The electrical equipment plate 200 may have a plate shape
having wide surfaces at its upper and lower portions. In addition,
electrical equipment is mounted to the wide upper surface of the
electrical equipment plate 200. Here, the electrical equipment
mounted to the upper portion of the electrical equipment plate 200
may include at least one of a battery management system (BMS) 310,
a current sensor 320, a relay 330 and a fuse 340.
[0052] The electrical equipment plate 200 will be described later
in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0053] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing
the electrical equipment plate 200 according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an
assembled state of the electrical equipment plate 200 of FIG.
2.
[0054] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the BMS 310, the current sensor
320, the relay 330 and the fuse 340 may be mounted on the
electrical equipment plate 200 according to the present
disclosure.
[0055] Here, the BMS 310 represents a battery management unit for
controlling charging/discharging operations of a battery pack as a
whole, and the BMS 310 is generally included in a battery pack.
[0056] In addition, the current sensor 320 senses a
charging/discharging current of the battery pack, and the relay 330
is a switching unit for selectively opening or closing a
charging/discharging path on which a charging/discharging current
of the battery pack flows. In addition, the fuse 340 is provided on
the charging/discharging path of the battery pack and serves as a
component for blocking the charging/discharging current by fusing
off when an abnormal situation occurs at the battery pack. The
current sensor 320, the relay 330 and the fuse 340 may exchange
information with the BMS 310 and be controlled by the BMS 310.
[0057] The BMS 310, the current sensor 320, the relay 330 and the
fuse 340 are obvious to those skilled in the art and thus are not
described in detail here.
[0058] In addition to the above electrical equipment, at least one
bus bar 350 may be mounted onto the electrical equipment plate 200.
The bus bar 350 connects a module terminal 110 to a pack terminal
to configure a charging/discharging path, and may also electrically
connect the current sensor 320, the relay 330 and the fuse 340.
Here, the module terminal 110 is a terminal provided at the battery
module 100 and may include a cathode module terminal 111 and an
anode module terminal 112. In addition, the pack terminal is a
terminal provided at the battery pack, which is used when
connecting an external charging/discharging device to the battery
pack, and may include a cathode pack terminal 211 and an anode pack
terminal 212.
[0059] In particular, the bus bar 350 may include a cathode bus bar
351 and an anode bus bar 352. Here, the cathode bus bar 351
electrically connects the cathode module terminal 111 and the
cathode pack terminal 211, and the anode bus bar 352 electrically
connects the anode module terminal 112 and the anode pack terminal
212. As described above, since the bus bar 350 is used for
electrical connection, the bus bar 350 may be made of electrically
conductive material, particularly metallic material such as copper
in order to ensure mechanical strength to some extent.
[0060] Meanwhile, there may be provided two or more cathode bus
bars 351 or anode bus bars 352. For example, as shown in FIG. 2,
four cathode bus bars 351 may be provided and a single anode bus
bar 352 may be provided. Four cathode bus bars 351 are respectively
provided between the cathode module terminal 111 and the current
sensor 320, between the current sensor 320 and the relay 330,
between the relay 330 and the fuse 340, and between the fuse 340
and the cathode pack terminal 211 to electrically connect them. In
this configuration, the cathode module terminal 111 may be
electrically connected to the cathode pack terminal 211 after
passing through the bus bar 350, the current sensor 320, the bus
bar 350, the relay 330, the bus bar 350, the fuse 340 and the bus
bar 350 in order.
[0061] Here, the bus bar 350 and each of electrical equipment may
be connected and fixed to each other by using bolts. For this,
holes (through hole), designated by He in FIG. 2, may be formed at
both ends of the electrical equipment, and a hole (a coupling
hole), designated by Hb in FIG. 2, may also be formed in at least
one side of the bus bar 350 at a location corresponding to the
through hole of the electrical equipment. In this case, the
electrical equipment and the bus bar 350 may be coupled and fixed
to each other by placing a bolt through both the through hole of
the electrical equipment and the coupling hole of the bus bar
350.
[0062] Preferably, the electrical equipment plate 200 may have a
plate protrusion at the upper surface thereof, as indicated by Bp
in FIG. 2. In addition, a hole (a coupling hole) may be formed in
at least one bus bar 350 in a shape corresponding to the plate
protrusion.
[0063] For example, in the configuration of FIG. 2, assuming that
cathode bus bars 351 located on a cathode current path from the
cathode module terminal 111 to the cathode pack terminal 211 are a
first cathode bus bar, a second cathode bus bar, a third cathode
bus bar and a fourth cathode bus bar in order, coupling holes Hb
may be formed in a right end of the first cathode bus bar, a left
end of the second cathode bus bar, a right end of the third cathode
bus bar and a left end of the fourth cathode bus bar. Here, the
right side and the left side of the bus bar 350 are respectively
based on the drawings depicted in FIG. 2, and an end of each bus
bar 350 close to the cathode module terminal 111 is called a left
end and an end close to the cathode pack terminal 211 is called a
right end.
[0064] In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the electrical equipment
plate 200 may include four plate protrusions Bp. In addition, the
plate protrusion may be inserted into and coupled through the
coupling hole Hb of the bus bar 350. For example, four plate
protrusions may be inserted into the coupling hole formed in the
right end of the first cathode bus bar, the left end of the second
cathode bus bar, the right end of the third cathode bus bar and the
left end of the fourth cathode bus bar. Therefore, the bus bar 350
may be fixed to the upper portion of the electrical equipment plate
200 by inserting the plate protrusion of the electrical equipment
plate 200 into the coupling hole.
[0065] In the above configuration of the present disclosure, since
the bus bar 350 may be fixed onto the electrical equipment plate
200 by inserting the plate protrusion formed at the electrical
equipment plate 200 into the coupling hole, the bus bar 350 may be
assembled and connected to the electrical equipment plate 200 very
simply.
[0066] Meanwhile, the electrical equipment, namely the current
sensor 320, the relay 330 and the fuse 340, may include at least
two terminals for the installation on the charging/discharging
path. At this time, holes (through holes) may be formed in both
terminals of the current sensor 320, the relay 330 and the fuse
340. In addition, the plate protrusion of the electrical equipment
plate 200 may be inserted into the through hole of the electrical
equipment.
[0067] For example, in the configuration of FIG. 2, through holes
He may be formed in both ends of the current sensor 320 and both
terminals of the fuse 340, and the plate protrusion Bp of the
electrical equipment plate 200 may be inserted into such a through
hole. In this case, a single plate protrusion Bp may pass through
both the coupling hole Hb formed in the bus bar 350 and the through
hole He formed in the electrical equipment. In this configuration
of the present disclosure, since a single plate protrusion is
inserted into the coupling hole of the bus bar 350 and the through
hole of the electrical equipment together, it is possible to fix
the bus bar 350 and the electrical equipment to the electrical
equipment plate 200 and also electrically connect and fix the bus
bar 350 and the electrical equipment to each other. Therefore, in
this configuration of the present disclosure, the process for
mounting electrical equipment to the electrical equipment plate 200
and electrically connecting them may be performed more rapidly and
more easily.
[0068] In particular, in the above configuration, it is desirable
to insert the plate protrusion into the coupling hole of the bus
bar 350 first and then insert the plate protrusion into the through
hole of the electrical equipment later. In this configuration, in a
portion where the plate protrusion is provided, the electrical
equipment plate 200, the bus bar 350 and the electrical equipment
are stacked upwards in order. Therefore, in this configuration,
since the electrical equipment is provided at the uppermost
location, the electrical equipment may be easily separated. In
other words, the electrical equipment such as the current sensor
320, the fuse 340 and the relay 330 sometimes needs to be exchanged
due to a trouble. At this time, in the above embodiment, the
electrical equipment may be separated upwards from the electrical
equipment plate 200 while leaving the bus bar 350 as it is, which
may facilitate the exchange work of the electrical equipment.
[0069] Also preferably, in this embodiment, after the plate
protrusion is inserted into the coupling hole of the bus bar 350
and the through hole of the electrical equipment, an outer side of
the plate protrusion may be fixed using a nut. In this case, in a
portion where the plate protrusion is provided, the electrical
equipment plate 200, the bus bar 350, the electrical equipment and
the nut may be stacked upwards in order. Meanwhile, in order to
couple the nut more easily, a thread may be formed on an outer
surface of the plate protrusion, and the nut may be screwed to the
thread of the plate protrusion. In this configuration of the
present disclosure, since the nut is coupled to the outer side of
the plate protrusion, the fixing state of the bus bar 350 and the
electrical equipment to the plate protrusion may be maintained more
stably.
[0070] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1, the battery module 100 may be
configured so that the cathode module terminal 111 and the anode
module terminal 112 protrude upwards. In this case, at least two of
the bus bars 350 may have holes (coupling holes), as indicated by
Hb in FIG. 1, for the coupling with the module terminal 110 so that
the cathode module terminal 111 and the anode module terminal 112
are respectively inserted into the coupling holes to electrically
connect and fix each module terminal 110 to the bus bar 350. For
example, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, coupling holes Hb (see FIG. 1)
may be formed in one end of the first cathode bus bar 351 and one
end of the anode bus bar 352. In addition, by inserting the cathode
module terminal 111 and the anode module terminal 112 respectively
into the coupling holes formed in the cathode bus bar 351 and the
anode bus bar 352, it is possible to electrically connect and fix
the cathode bus bar 351 and the cathode module terminal 111 also
electrically connect and fix the anode bus bar 352 and the anode
module terminal 112. In this configuration of the present
disclosure, by inserting the module terminal 110 into the coupling
hole formed in the bus bar 350, it is possible to electrically
connect the bus bar 350 and the module terminal 110, maintain their
fixed state, simplify their fabricating process and ensure their
structural stability.
[0071] Also preferably, the electrical equipment plate 200 may have
a bus bar insert. In addition, in the bus bar insert, the bus bar
350 may be inserted at least partially. In this case, at least a
part of the bus bar 350 may stand vertically. For example,
referring to FIG. 2, the first cathode bus bar 351 may be
configured to stand vertically at its central portion, except for
both ends thereof. In addition, the bus bar insert having a narrow
gap may be formed in the electrical equipment plate 200, as
indicated by A, so that the central portion of the first cathode
bus bar 351 may be inserted therein. In this case, by fitting the
central portion of the first cathode bus bar 351 into the bus bar
insert of the electrical equipment plate 200, the first cathode bus
bar 351 may be coupled and fixed to the electrical equipment plate
200 more strongly and more stably. In addition, in this
configuration, as the bus bar 350 is inserted into the bus bar
insert, an exposed region of the bus bar 350 decreases, which may
improve isolation of the bus bar 350. For example, in the
configuration of FIGS. 2 and 3, as the first cathode bus bar 351 is
inserted into the bus bar insert, an exposed area of the first
cathode bus bar 351 is reduced, and the insolation against another
component such as the first cathode bus bar 351 and the BMS 310 may
be improved.
[0072] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1, the electrical equipment
plate 200 may be located on the battery module 100. In this
embodiment, the battery module 100 and the electrical equipment
plate 200 may be easily assembled, and the electrical equipment
mounted on the electrical equipment plate 200 may be connected to
the battery module 100 more easily. Moreover, the electrical
equipment mounted to the electrical equipment plate 200 may be
easily separated upwards, and electrical equipment may also be
easily mounted from the above, which allows easy exchange of each
of the electrical equipment.
[0073] Preferably, the battery module 100 may include a module
protrusion at an upper portion thereof, as indicated by Bb in FIG.
1. In addition, the electrical equipment plate 200 may have a hole
(a plate hole), as indicated by Hp in FIG. 1, at a location
corresponding to the module protrusion of the battery module 100.
In this configuration, by inserting the module protrusion Bb into
the plate hole Hp, the electrical equipment plate 200 and the
battery module 100 may be coupled and fixed to each other. In
addition, after the module protrusion passes through the plate
hole, a nut may be coupled to an outer side of the module
protrusion to reinforce its fixing force. In this case, in order to
facilitate easier coupling of the nut and the module protrusion, a
thread may be formed at an outer surface of the module protrusion.
In this configuration of the present disclosure, when the
electrical equipment plate 200 is mounted onto the battery module
100, the module protrusion provided at the battery module 100 is
inserted into the plate hole formed in the electrical equipment
plate 200, which allows simple mounting of the electrical equipment
plate 200 to the battery module 100 and also ensures stable
fixation.
[0074] In this configuration, the BMS 310 may have a hole (a
connection hole), as indicated by Hm in FIG. 2, at a location
corresponding to the plate hole. In this case, the module
protrusion Bb of the battery module 100 may pass through both the
plate hole Hp and the connection hole (Hm) of the BMS 310. In this
configuration, since the electrical equipment plate 200 and the BMS
310 may be coupled and fixed together by using the same module
protrusion, it is possible to mount the electrical equipment plate
200 onto the battery module 100 and mount the BMS 310 onto the
electrical equipment plate 200 at once, which may simplify the
mounting process. Moreover, since the electrical equipment plate
200 and the BMS 310 are mounted at once, it is possible to reduce
parts, costs and time required for mounting them. Further, since
the space required for coupling such parts decreases, it is
possible to design the battery pack in a smaller size.
[0075] Also preferably, the battery module 100 may include a
connector connected to both ends of at least one secondary battery
among the plurality of secondary batteries, and the connector may
be inserted into a port of the BMS 310. For example, in the
configuration of FIG. 1, a plurality of pouch-type secondary
batteries may be stacked in the battery module 100, and electrode
tabs of the stacked pouch-type secondary batteries may be formed to
protrude in one direction, for example in a left direction. At this
time, a sensing module 120 may be provided at a side where the
electrode tabs protrude, and the sensing module 120 may come into
contact with each electrode tab of the secondary battery to sense a
voltage or the like of each secondary battery. In addition, the
sensing module 120 may include a connector 121, and a port 311 may
be formed in the BMS 310 so that the connector 121 of the sensing
module 120 may be inserted therein. In this case, information about
voltage or the like of each secondary battery sensed by the sensing
module 120 may be transmitted to the BMS 310 via the connector 121
and the port 311, and the BMS 310 may control the
charging/discharging operations of the battery pack based on the
transmitted information.
[0076] Meanwhile, though not shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack
according to the present disclosure may further include a pack
case.
[0077] The pack case has an empty space thereon and accommodates
the battery module 100 and the electrical equipment plate 200 in
the inner space. The pack case is an exterior material of the
battery pack, which isolates the battery module 100 and the
electrical equipment plate 200 from the outside and protects the
battery module 100 and the electrical equipment plate 200 against
an external impact.
[0078] FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a pack
case 400 of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0079] Referring to FIG. 4, the pack case 400 may include a lower
case 410 and an upper case 420. The lower case 410 has an inner
space to accommodate most of the battery module 100 and the
electrical equipment plate 200 in the inner space. In addition, the
lower case 410 has an open upper portion so that the battery module
100 and the electrical equipment plate 200 are accommodated
downwards. The upper case 420 is located above the lower case 410
and coupled to the open portion of the lower case 410. Therefore,
if the upper case 420 is coupled to the lower case 410, the open
portion of the lower case 410 is covered by the upper case 420,
thereby sealing the inner space of the lower case 410 to some
extent.
[0080] Preferably, the pack case 400 may have an opening 421 formed
above a location corresponding to at least one electrical
equipment, namely at least one of the BMS 310, the current sensor
320, the relay 330 and the fuse 340. For example, as shown in FIG.
4, at least one opening 421 may be formed in the upper case 420. In
this embodiment of the present disclosure, the electrical equipment
may be attached or detached more easily through the opening 421
formed in the upper case 420. For example, in the configuration of
FIG. 4, the opening 421 may be formed above the fuse 340. In this
case, without separating the upper case 420 from the lower case
410, the fuse 340 may be easily attached or detached through the
opening 421. In this configuration of the present disclosure, if
any electrical equipment needs to be exchanged due to a trouble,
the corresponding electrical equipment may be exchanged through the
opening 421, thereby facilitating easier exchange work.
[0081] Further preferably, if the opening 421 is formed in the pack
case 400, the pack case 400 may include a cover 422 configured to
open or close the opening 421. In this case, in a normal situation,
the cover 422 closes the opening 421 to prevent impurities from
flowing in through the opening 421. However, in a special
situation, for example when it is required for exchanging any
electrical equipment, the cover 422 opens the opening 421 to
exchange the electrical equipment through the opening 421.
[0082] Meanwhile, even though FIG. 4 depicts that only one opening
421 is formed in the pack case 400, two or more openings 421 may
also be formed in the pack case 400.
[0083] In addition, the pack case 400 may have at least one
terminal hole Ht formed to expose the cathode pack terminal 211 and
the anode pack terminal 212, respectively. In addition, the pack
case 400 may have at least one access hole He for allowing the
electrical equipment such as the BMS 310 to access an external
component.
[0084] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0085] Referring to FIG. 5, the battery pack according to the
present disclosure may include two or more battery modules 100. In
addition, the plurality of battery modules 100 may be entirely or
partially arranged in a horizontal direction.
[0086] At this time, the electrical equipment plate 200 may include
at least one electrical equipment 300 and be located upon the
plurality of battery modules 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 5,
in case the battery pack includes four battery modules 100 which
are arranged in parallel in a horizontal direction, the electrical
equipment plate 200 may be configured to be located on the four
battery modules 100 arranged in parallel in a horizontal
direction.
[0087] In this case, the size (a vertical length) of the electrical
equipment plate 200 may correspond to the size of four battery
modules 100. In other words, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, since a
single electrical equipment plate 200 is located on a single
battery module 100, the size of the electrical equipment plate 200
may correspond to the size of a single battery module 100.
Meanwhile, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, since a single electrical
equipment plate 200 is located on four battery modules 100, the
size of the electrical equipment plate 200 may correspond to the
sum of four battery modules 100. However, this is just an example,
and if a plurality of battery modules 100 are included, the
electrical equipment plate 200 may not be sized to cover the entire
battery modules 100. For example, in case four battery modules 100
are included, the electrical equipment plate 200 may also be
configured to have a size corresponding to one or two battery
modules 100.
[0088] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack
according to still another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 6, the battery pack according to the
present disclosure may include a plurality of battery modules 100,
which are entirely or partially stacked in parallel in a vertical
direction, or in a direction perpendicular to the ground.
[0090] In addition, the electrical equipment plate 200 may be
located on an uppermost battery module 100 among the plurality of
battery modules 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, if four
battery modules 100 are stacked vertically, the electrical
equipment plate 200 may be located on the uppermost battery module
100. In this configuration of the present disclosure, even though
the battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules 100, the
electrical equipment plate 200 may be easily accessed from above,
which allows each inspection, installation and exchange of the
electrical equipment plate 200 as well as partial exchange of the
electrical equipment 300. Meanwhile, if the battery pack having a
plurality of battery modules 100 includes a single electrical
equipment plate 200 as described above, the electrical equipment
plate 200 may be configured to manage charging/discharging
operations of the plurality of battery modules 100 as a whole.
[0091] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack
according to further another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0092] Referring to FIG. 7, the battery pack according to the
present disclosure may include a module case 500. The module case
500 may have an empty space therein to accommodate at least one
battery module 100 in the inner space. The module case 500 may not
accommodate the electrical equipment plate 200 in the inner space,
different from the pack case depicted in FIG. 4.
[0093] In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the electrical equipment
plate 200 may be located on the module case 500. For this, the
module case 500 may have a mounting unit for mounting the
electrical equipment plate 200 on its upper surface.
[0094] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, since the
battery module 100 is managed in the unit of the module case 500,
it may be easier to handle only the battery module 100, excluding
the electrical equipment plate 200. In particular, if the battery
pack includes a plurality of battery modules 100, the plurality of
battery modules 100 may be included in a single module case 500,
and the electrical equipment plate 200 is not located in the module
case 500, which may ensure more convenient management of the
plurality of battery modules 100. In addition, since the electrical
equipment plate 200 is located out of the module case 500, the
electrical equipment plate 200 may be easily accessed, and it will
be easier to inspect, install or exchange the electrical equipment
plate 200 as well as partially exchange the electrical equipment
300.
[0095] Meanwhile, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, as
shown in FIG. 7, the battery pack according to the present
disclosure may further include an electrical equipment cover
600.
[0096] If the electrical equipment plate 200 is located on the
battery module 100, the electrical equipment cover 600 may cover
the upper portion of the electrical equipment plate 200. If the
electrical equipment plate 200 is exposed outwards, the electrical
equipment 300 mounted to the electrical equipment plate 200 may be
easily broken or damaged. However, in this configuration of the
present disclosure, since the electrical equipment plate 200 is not
exposed outwards, it is possible to prevent the electrical
equipment 300 from being broken or damaged due to an impact or
penetration of impurities.
[0097] The electrical equipment cover 600 may be configured to
cover only the upper portion of the electrical equipment plate 200
as shown in FIG. 7, but the present disclosure is not limited
thereto. For example, the electrical equipment cover 600 may have a
sealed box shape to accommodate the electrical equipment plate 200
in its inner space so as to cover both the upper and lower portions
of the electrical equipment plate 200.
[0098] In addition, the battery pack according to the present
disclosure may further include a pack case which accommodates the
module case 500 and/or the electrical equipment cover 600.
[0099] Meanwhile, even though it is depicted in various embodiments
that a single electrical equipment plate 200 is included, the
present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the battery pack
according to the present disclosure may include two or more
electrical equipment plates 200.
[0100] The battery pack according to the present disclosure may be
applied to a vehicle such as an electric vehicle and a hybrid
vehicle. In other words, the vehicle according to the present
disclosure may include the battery pack according to the present
disclosure as described above.
[0101] The present disclosure has been described in detail.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
[0102] Meanwhile, the terms indicating up, down, left and right
directions are used in the specification, but it is obvious to
those skilled in the art that these merely represent a relative
location and may vary based on a location of an observer or a shape
in which an object is placed.
* * * * *